Rack for piece goods



Feb. 11, 1930. W, w PHILLIPS I 1,747,026

RACK FOB PIECE GOODS Filed Aug. 2T. 1928 l 32 INVENTOR Y Y WWP/WHL S B ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES minare;

PATENT OFFICE RACK FOR PIECE GOODS Application filed August 27, 1928.

This invention relates to supports, and has particular reference to an improved supporting raclr which is especially designed for holding and displaying piece goods or bolts of cloth.

It is the general practice in dry goods or department stores to arrange bolts of cloth or piece goods on shelving disposed behind the counters, thereby requiring the clerks to remove the goods and place the same on the counter for the purpose of displaying it to the prospective customers. In addition to the fact that a greater number of clerks are required to perform this service, it is obvious that the constant handling of the goods impairs its value due to soiling, wrinkling or otherwise damaging the same.

One of the principal objects of the present invention resides in the provision of a rack for piece goods which is designed to be placed in the aisles of the store where the goods may be conveniently and conspicuously displayed to prospective customers, thereby reducing to a minimum the handling of the goods which is only necessary to be removed from the rack in event of a sale.

The invention further aims to provide a rack for supporting and displaying piece goods which is capable of a wide range of adjustmentto compensate for variations in the size of the stock to be supported and displayed thereon.

Other objects of the invent-ion reside in the comparative simplicity of construction 5 and mode of adjustment of the rack, the

economy with which the same may be produced and installed and the general efficiency derived therefrom.

lllith the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claim denes the actual scope of the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the rack, one end of which is broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view Serial No. 302,309.

therethrough taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail fragmentary sectional View illustrating the detachable connection of the partition elements.

Referring to the Ydrawings by characters of reference, the raclr includes end frame. members made up of vertical elements 5, 5 which are preferably of piping or tubular construction and which are secured at their lower ends to transverse base pieces 6 mounted on rollers or castors 7. The upper ends of the vertical elements 5 are connected by transverse connecting pieces 8 which are also of tubular construction and which are joined 65 thereto by angle unions 9. The end members are connected by horizontal side elements 10 and horizontal intermediate elements 11 which are also preferably of tubing or piping. The side elements 10 are attached to 70 the vertical elements 5 by four-way unions or connectors 12 which are vertically adjustable on the vertical elements 5 by means of retaining pins 18 engageable through the unions 12 and within vertically spaced re- 75 ceiving apertures 14E in the elements 5. The four-way unions 12 also support'transverse horizontal elements 15 to which the central or intermediate longitudinal elements 11 are joined by T unions 16. Under this construction and arrangement, a plurality of sets of relatively adjustable horizontally disposed elements are provided, across which the bolts of cloth or piece goods A are designed to be supported, it being obvious that several sets of longitudinal supporting elements may be relatively adjusted to compensate for variations in the height of the bolts. In order to separate and properly support the bolts A, partition leaves 17 are employed which are detachably connected to the intermediate longitudinal members 11 for longitudinal sliding movement by means of split cylindrical bearings 18 slidable on the longitudinal elements 11. The lower semicylindrical section 19 of each split cylind 1ical bearing 18 is hingedly attached at 20 to the partition leaf 17 while the opposite free terminal is provided with an ear 21 engaged by a latch 22. The leaves 17 are provided in their loWer edges adjacent the opposite sides With semi-circular notches 23 adapted to partially embrace the outer side elements 10.

In use, the bolts of piece goods or cloth A are transversely arranged on the superposed sets of longitudinal elements 10 and ll which have been previously adjusted to coincide with the height of the bolts and the goods of different characters may be separated and maintained by the partition leaves 17. It thus follows that With the rack arranged in the aisle of the store, the prospec* tive customers have ready access to the goods for inspecting the saine Without the necessity o removing the bolts from the rack until a sale has been consummated. Obviously, this eliminates unnecessary handling and reduces the clerical personnel of the store to a minimum.

Vhat is claimed is:

A display rack constructed of piping and including end members each having a pair of vertical uprights, side bars connecting said uprights at their upper and lower ends, longitudinally extending members slidably and adjustably engaged With the uprights, and upstanding article supporting members clamped to one of said longitudinal members and adapted to slide thereon, said upstanding article holding elements having notches in their lower edges to it and slide on the other longitudinally extending members.

VILLIAM vWALTER PIVIILLIPS. 

